I caught my heart heading to the pit of discouragement for spring break. My heart was supposed to go to the beach with my family and me, but it was not cooperating.

We had been hit by one emotional and financial crisis after another. A close friend had just found out that, after a year’s worth of abdominal pain, extreme fatigue, and an undiagnosed illness, she had a large tumor that appeared to be ovarian cancer.

Earlier that week our upstairs air conditioner broke, again. And a week later, we were told our international adoption expenses would not apply as a deduction that year, which meant we owed significantly more on taxes than anticipated. Yet, our savings had been depleted by adoption expenses and failing air conditioning systems.

I couldn’t stop worrying about my friend. I couldn’t stop fretting over our finances. And I couldn’t stop wondering, “How am I supposed to rest and relax on vacation with all of this happening?”

Although I had packed my bags for the beach, my heart decided it wasn’t in the mood and started marching straight toward the pit.

I didn’t want to go on vacation, but I didn’t want to camp out in a place of despair either. I knew Somebody needed to take charge of my emotions, and my husband knew better than to try. So, I decided it was time to boss my heart around!

King David was really good at getting bossy by telling his heart and soul what to do. In Psalm 103 he starts out with this:

Nothing in me wanted to do this, but even in the midst of my turmoil and troubles, I told my soul to praise the Lord. And I had an attitude about it, too.

Some sweet “say your bedtime prayers” talk to my soul wasn’t going to work. No, I needed a deep-down, preach it to my inmost being sermon: “Renee Swope, GOD IS GOOD no matter what your feelings are telling you!”

Then I bossed my heart with some more Truth and pulled it away from the pit by telling myself to “forget not ALL his benefits” {Psalm 103:2}. Next, I followed King David’s lead by walking down memory lane and reminded my heart how good God is at being God. How He is the One who . . .

“Forgives all [my] sins and heals all [my] diseases,
redeems [my] life from the pit
crowns [me] with love and compassion,
satisfies [my] desires with good things
so that [my] youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
{Psalm 103:3-5}

No matter what the answer would be to my friend’s diagnosis, or how costly our air conditioner was going to be, or how much we owed on taxes — my soul needed to do this! And, my emotions eventually got in line and filed behind my words as they led my heart out of the pit.

Are there circumstances that have pulled you into a place of discouragement? Do you have concerns that are causing your thoughts to head down a path of despair? I pray you won’t go there.

Every time you are tempted to start worrying about what might be, use King David’s prayer to focus on what was, is, and will forever be — God’s faithfulness to walk by your side and navigate your heart through the valleys of life as you:

1. Praise God for who He is and how good He is.

2. Thank God for what He has done in the past.

3. Trust God for what He will do in the future.

Sweet friend, isn’t it good to know you can be the boss of your emotions by telling your heart what to do? And if you need to get a little bossy, you go right ahead.

Lord, empower me through Your Spirit to stop my emotions from bossing me around. I want to quit worrying about what might happen and focus on what has already happened by remembering and praising You for Your faithfulness in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Renee Swope

Renee Swope is a Word-lover, heart-encourager, story-teller and grace-needer. She’s the best-selling author of "A Confident Heart" and "A Confident Heart Devotional, and the former radio co-host of "Everyday Life With Lysa & Renee" at Proverbs 31 Ministries, where she served in leadership for twenty years. Married to her favorite...
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